There are a lot of reasons a host could appear down to you but actually
be fully online and working perfectly including ...

Code:

Problems with your home computer firewall or security applications.
Problems in your local area or neighborhood network / DNS caching.
Problems out on the open internet between somewhere between you and your host.
Conditions called netsplits where the Internet actually fragments temporarily.
You got banned either deliberately or accidentally at your host.

So unless you really know for certain, I wouldn't be so quick to jump the gun and assume that your current host is actually down.

There are a lot of reasons a host could appear down to you but actually
be fully online and working perfectly including ...

Code:

Problems with your home computer firewall or security applications.
Problems in your local area or neighborhood network / DNS caching.
Problems out on the open internet between somewhere between you and your host.
Conditions called netsplits where the Internet actually fragments temporarily.
You got banned either deliberately or accidentally at your host.

So unless you really know for certain, I wouldn't be so quick to jump the gun and assume that your current host is actually down.